A nurse is collecting data from a client who is recovering from a recent stroke.
Which of the following findings should indicate to the nurse the need for a referral to a speech-language pathologist?

Collaborate with the client to develop a daily physical exercise routine. This intervention can help reduce aggression and impulsivity in schizophrenia by providing an outlet for frustration, enhancing self-esteem, and improving mood. Physical exercise can also improve physical health and reduce the risk of metabolic syndrome associated with antipsychotic medications.

Choice A is wrong because warning the client that the staff will use seclusion as a consequence if there are repeated reports of hallucination is punitive and threatening. This can increase the client’s anxiety, paranoia, and hostility, and may worsen the psychotic symptoms. Seclusion should only be used as a last resort when the client poses a serious danger to self or others, and not as a punishment or coercion.

Choice B is wrong because keeping the facility’s security personnel constantly visible to the client throughout treatment is intimidating and stigmatizing. This can also increase the client’s fear, distrust, and resentment, and may trigger aggressive behavior. Security personnel should only be involved when there is an imminent risk of violence, and not as a routine measure.

Choice D is wrong because agreeing that the hallucinations are real if the client exhibits aggressive behavior toward other clients is reinforcing the delusional belief and rewarding the aggression. This can also confuse the client and undermine the therapeutic relationship.

The nurse should acknowledge the client’s experience of hallucinations, but not endorse them as reality. The nurse should also set clear limits on aggressive behavior and use de-escalation techniques to calm the client.

Transferring the client from the bed to a chair. This is a task that can be delegated to an assistive personnel because it does not require nursing judgment or assessment. The nurse should provide clear instructions and supervise the assistive personnel during the transfer.

Choice B is wrong because checking the client’s surgical dressing for bleeding is a nursing assessment that requires clinical judgment and cannot be delegated.

The nurse should monitor the dressing for signs of infection, drainage, or dehiscence.

Choice C is wrong because determining whether the client has incisional pain is a nursing assessment that requires communication and evaluation skills and cannot be delegated.

The nurse should assess the client’s pain level, location, quality, and duration and administer pain medication as prescribed.

Choice D is wrong because showing the client how to use an incentive spirometer is a nursing intervention that requires teaching and evaluation skills and cannot be delegated.

The nurse should instruct the client on how to use the device to promote lung expansion and prevent atelectasis.